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Indybay Feature

Health Services Adequate for SSU Students

by Samantha Medeiros
Discusses the study on whether or not health services at SSU are adequate for students.
Dear Editor,

Many students on campuses across California (including myself) are outraged with the price of their California State University (CSU) tuition and fees. Most students don’t know exactly how this money is allocated once received. And how would they? This information is not broadcasted or posted anywhere. Each school in the CSU system sets aside an amount of money for health services for students. Our health service fees at Sonoma State University from last school year were second highest behind Humboldt State at $344. Yet all of the CSUs offer most of the same services but with an average fee of $225. Where is this money going? Is it going into getting good doctors? Maybe it is spent providing a variety of brands of contraceptives and prescriptions? Giving refills? Providing counseling for students who are dealing with a crisis? Unfortunately, the answer to most of these questions is no. Our sociological investigative group looked into the student health services provided at SSU as well as looking at the prices while comparing them to other CSUs and schools in our area. Using student input in order to gain a true understanding of the students' use and satisfaction with the services here at SSU, we found that with statistics, surveys, comparisons and interviews, we concluded that there are adequate health services for students here at SSU but at a high cost. Overall, the SSU health center seems to be providing students with good health care but it doesn’t appear to be worth the cost that the students are paying. Almost no one from our surveys knew how much they are really paying for the student health services. With the majority of students not using the crisis counseling program (CAPS), the majority of the population is paying for something they are not even using. Of the services that are offered at the health center, the majority of students are not utilizing them. There are only a few doctors and nurses on campus and students have to pay for certain prescriptions and their refills. We, the students, are fed up with increasing tuition costs and not getting all of the benefits that we pay for. We pay too much at SSU for many things we have not and probably will not ever use. Although the CSU and California debt crisis is still in effect, we need to inform the students of where their money is going so that they can decide whether or not their needs are being adequately met.
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